This Green Hell: Alex Hunter, Book 3

Deep in the steaming jungles of Paraguay, Aimee Weir is in trouble. The petrobiologist has found what she was looking for - a unique microorganism in a natural gas deposit - but it proves to be more destructive than anyone could have imagined. A contagion is striking down all in its wake. The camp is quarantined, but workers start to vanish in the night. Is it fear of contamination - or has something far more lethal come to the surface? Something that has been trapped beneath the miles of stone, waiting... for us.

I think that this is the best of the first 3 books. I am glad that Amy is in this book again. Same basic story. A world ending problem, the heavy guns are sent in, problem + monster. The bad guy/monster was interesting and tied into the world ending virus. Amy is on site at a drilling site, her expertise is needed to rate the oil plus hopefully find new water life.

The Atrocity Archives: A Laundry Files Novel

Bob Howard is a computer-hacker desk jockey, who has more than enough trouble keeping up with the endless paperwork he has to do on a daily basis. He should never be called on to do anything remotely heroic. But for some reason, he is.

Note: The language was offensive!!! Hence the 4 stars. I would like to read more of Stross's books but I am hesitant.

Another reviewer is a fan of Dresden, as am I. The dry, quick wit is wonderful. Although this is a paranormal listen, it differs from Dresden by being in the high-tech world in Europe. It moves very quickly with barely time to breath.

Another Note: There are periods of dry tech papers, I just starting to fast forward to those.

The setting is a a very secret organization with the purpose to protect the general public from paranormal dangers. As with the TV portrayal of conflict between police and the FBI, there is conflict and jealousy between the agency departments. The character interplay is great.

I was confused when about 2/3 of the way through, the story abruptly ends and starts with a new story. The abrupt change was quickly forgotten and the second "chapter" was a wild ride of more fun.

Bob is a brilliant geek, Mo is his girlfriend. He has to rescue her in the first story and sadly she is not in the second. However, enter a feisty police chief who is not about to let anyone tromp all over her territory. It was hilarious and the story was great fun. Cement cows in a pasture? How could these cows many miles away have connection with the agency? Lots of guns and curious bomb/explosions.

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore: A Novel

The Great Recession has shuffled Clay Jannon out of his life as a San Francisco Web-design drone - and serendipity, sheer curiosity, and the ability to climb a ladder like a monkey has landed him a new gig working the night shift at Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore. But after just a few days on the job, Clay begins to realize that this store is even more curious than the name suggests. There are only a few customers, but they come in repeatedly and never seem to actually buy anything....

Two worlds existing at the same time. An ancient odd bookshop and the tech world of Google. The customers of the bookstore are mysterious; who are they and why do they want the books from the back? There is a mystery to be solved and Google employees are quickly trying to solve the problem with high tech to protect Mr. Penumberbra and preserve his bookstore. I enjoyed the characters and the creative story. College students digging deep to discover an ancient secret.

The Nazi Officer's Wife: How One Jewish Woman Survived the Holocaust

Edith Hahn was an outspoken young woman in Vienna when the Gestapo forced her into a ghetto and then into a slave labor camp. When she returned home months later, she knew she would become a hunted woman, so she went underground.

Oh my goodness. What a story! The extent of what humans will do to survive, an assumed life, foregoing all friends and family just . to . stay . alive . . . years of daily terror and the dangerous way of life that includes pretending to be someone you are not and playing the part not just daily but for years on end.

Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen

Why we think it’s a great listen: Want to join the “superhumans”? Luckily you don’t have to run to catch up with them, thanks to McDougall’s and Sanders’ inspiring (and motivating) journey through history, science, physiology, health, entertaining characters and unlikely friendships. Full of incredible characters, amazing athletic achievements, cutting-edge science, and, most of all, pure inspiration, Born to Run is an epic adventure.

This book was an absolute joy! * The details of the remote tribe* The effects of running on the body and the feet.* The superathletes running for hundreds of miles* Training barefoot and the scientific benefits

Damsel Under Stress: A Novel

To-do: Stop the bad guys. Rescue the wizard. Find the perfect outfit for New Year's Eve. At last, Owen Palmer, the dreamboat wizard at Magic, Spells, and Illusions, Inc., has conjured up the courage to get Katie Chandler under the mistletoe at the office holiday party. But just when it looks like Katie has found her prince, in pops her inept fairy godmother, Ethelinda, to throw a wand into the works. Ethelinda's timing couldn’t be worse. A plot hatched by MSI's rogue ex-employees, Idris and his evil fairy gal pal Ari, threatens to expose the company's secrets - and the very existence of magic itself.

I really enjoy the series but I don't know if I can listen to another book!

These books are light-heated fun. Still fighting the bad guys: Idris, Aurie, etc. However the book takes a serious twist at the end. Katie is headed back home to Texas and leaving Owen to fight the bad guys. Even Marsha gets caught up in the world of magic.

Competition in the spell business is the theme of this book. Idris , etc.. are starting up a spell store, but exactly where do they plan to go with the store and the advertizing is bold. In the "shoot out" Owen makes a bad choice to save Katie instead of catch Idris. So Katie packs her bags, what will happen in Texas?

Once Upon Stilettos: A Novel

Click your heels three times and say, "There's no place like Bloomies!" Katie Chandler's life is pure magic - literally. As an executive assistant at Magic, Spells, and Illusions, Inc., she's seen more than her share of fantastical occurrences. A mere Manhattan mortal, Katie is no wizard, but she's a wiz at exposing "hokum" pocus, cloaked lies, and deceptive enchantments. And she's fallen under the all-too-human spell of attraction to Owen, a hunky wizard and coworker. Owen, however, is preoccupied. Someone has broken into his office and disrupted top-secret files, and it reeks of an inside job.

Oh my goodness, it shows how good the story is because I keep listening even though the narration is miserable to listen to. All of the character voices are nice except Katies. Yikes, it is grating.

This is a story of mysteries, mishaps, and laughs. Katie comes through with shining colors through it all. Lost powersMiscommunication/lack of communicationA company traitor, who is it?Mayhem and distrust between the employeesYippy, she finally ends up with the right guy!

Enchanted, Inc.: A Novel

Katie Chandler had always heard that New York is a weird and wonderful place, but this small-town Texas gal had no idea how weird until she moved there. Everywhere she goes, she sees something worth gawking at and Katie is afraid she's a little too normal to make a splash in the big city. Working for an ogre of a boss doesn't help. Then, seemingly out of the blue, Katie gets a job offer from Magic, Spells, and Illusions, Inc., a company that tricks of the trade to the magic community. For MSI, Katie's ordinariness is an asset.

Katie has lived in NY for a year and never stops marveling at the unusual people that she sees. Granted, NY is unique, but she has the rare ability to see through the "glamor" of the fairies, gargoyles, etc. She is recruited to work for MSI, Inc. (Magic, Spells, and Illusions) and the fun begins. I will be listening to the series and will probably listen to this book again in the future.

The Care and Feeding of Stray Vampires

Iris Scanlon, Half-Moon Hollow's only daytime vampire concierge, knows more about the undead than she'd like. Running all their daylight errands - from letting in the plumber to picking up some chilled O neg - gives her a look at the not-so-glamorous side of vampire life. Her rules are strict; relationships with vamps are strictly business, not friendship - and certainly not anything else. But then she finds her newest client, Cal, poisoned on his kitchen floor, and only Iris can help.

Iris serves the Vampire Communities needs by delivering their orders during the day when when they are sleeping. She is the guardian for her younger sister, Gigi. They have a loving relationship. Cal (vampire) ends up in their home and the sexual exploits start and the topic is even discussed by Gigi.

There are many other enjoyable vampire/werewolf series that do not rely so heavily on sexual interplay.

Code Name Verity

Code Name Verity is a compelling, emotionally rich story with universal themes of friendship and loyalty, heroism and bravery. Two young women from totally different backgrounds are thrown together during World War II: one a working-class girl from Manchester, the other a Scottish aristocrat, one a pilot, the other a wireless operator. Yet whenever their paths cross, they complement each other perfectly and before long become devoted friends. But then a vital mission goes wrong....

Yes! I love WWII books of all types. This book leaves me almost speechless. I cannot imagine reading this book, the narrators are spectacular; the pauses, the sighs, etc., makes this book stand out. In my opinion, this is an amazing book that ranks up there with any classic book.

What other book might you compare Code Name Verity to and why?

I have never read a book like this. Surprising details gradually are revealed, her writing style touched my soul. I intend to read her "Rose under Fire."

What about Morven Christie and Lucy Gaskell ’s performance did you like?

I think that their narration "made" this book and touched me so deeply.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

This is one of those books that I would not like to be made into a movie. This audible version is perfection that I do not want ruined. Books are always better than the movie.

Any additional comments?

I will remember this book for the rest of my life. It shines bright. The characters are developed richly. Part 1 is the view of Julie (a spy) and Part 2 is Maddy's (a pilot) view. Maddy, Julie and then Julie's brother Jamie. The book ends perfectly. I also loved that the author adds her comments at the end discussing her research for the book.

I'm Dreaming of an Undead Christmas

It's Christmas in Half-Moon Hollow and newly turned vampire Iris Scanlon-Calix wants to make Gigi's first visit home from college as normal and special as possible. It's taken months for Iris to work up the nerve to spend time around her baby sister after her vampire transition, so she enlists help from Jane Jameson and Company to keep her blood-thirst under control and assure Gigi's safety. Gigi, on the other hand, has problems of her own, including the demise of her relationship with high school sweetheart, Ben, and a looming job interview with Ophelia Lambert, the scariest potential employer in the Hollow.

This was a fun book to listen to! I am always happy when there is not a lot of swearing/graphic romance. The interplay between all of the family members was great with some surprises. For a short book, there was a lot of story.

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